IN Greensburg Salem Spring 2019 | Page 6

What’s news in greensburg salem Everyone Deserves a Clean and Beautiful Neighborhood Join the Great American Cleanup of PA Cleaning up your neighborhood is one of the best investments you can make. Whether you have vacant lots plagued with debris, natural areas that are dumped on, or litter blown from down the street, any neighborhood can be lifted up by positive action. The 15th annual Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Great American Cleanup of PA can help get you started. From March 1 through May 31, thousands of Pennsylvania families and friends will partake in litter and illegal dump cleanups, beautification projects such as tree and flower plantings, recycling collections and education programs. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful partners with PennDOT, the Department of Environmental Protection and Keep America Beautiful to provide free trash bags, gloves and safety vests to registered participants, as supplies last. During Let’s Pick It Up PA— every day from April 13 through May 6—cleanups registered with the Great American Cleanup of PA are eligible to take their trash to participating landfills free of charge or for a reduced rate. Registration can be done online at gacofpa.org. Michelle Dunn, Great American Cleanup of PA Program Coordinator, can answer questions at 1.877.772.3673, ext. 113 or email [email protected]. Join thousands of Pennsylvanians and keep your neighborhood clean and beautiful! McKenna Senior Center To Host Free Valentine’s Day Social McKenna Senior Center, located at 971 Old Salem Road in Greensburg, will host a free Valentine’s Day Social on Thursday, Feb. 14, beginning at 1 p.m. For more information, contact Mary Corsi, manager, at 724.837.8832. Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh Presents ‘Let My People Go!’ In February, the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh (MCP) will celebrate Black History Month with the Pittsburgh premiere of American composer Donald McCullough’s “Let My People Go! A Spiritual Journey Along the Underground Railroad.” This concert of African American spirituals is presented in collaboration with Ebenezer Baptist Church, where the concert will take place on Friday, Feb. 15, at 7:30 p.m. This project, the first collaboration between these two venerable institutions, seeks to be a compelling example of unity amidst the current climate of emboldened racism, and to invite the community to experience the powerful story of African Americans’ journey toward freedom that is an indelible part of our national and regional history. MCP and Ebenezer Baptist Church intend the spirituals through which this story 4 724.942.0940 to advertise ❘ is told to uplift and galvanize, just as they inspired and guided the enslaved on their courageous journey. After its premiere at the Kennedy Center, “Let My People Go!” was featured at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, as part of the museum’s inaugural activities. Audiences have described their experience as “moving,” “haunting,” “magnificent” and “spine- tingling.” At 110 years in operation, MCP is the city’s oldest continually performing arts organization. Composed of 100-plus singers, it is led by Robert Page Music Director Matthew Mehaffey. “We’re excited to collaborate with Ebenezer Baptist Church on this powerful piece,” says Mehaffey. “This is a celebration of community both past and present.” icmags.com Located in Pittsburgh’s historic Hill District, the 143-year-old Ebenezer Baptist Church serves a diverse congregation near the actual location of an Underground Railroad stop. The church itself was a primary meeting place for local civil rights activists in the wake of Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination. “We are humbled to have the opportunity to host the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and this important production. Ebenezer is a ‘Life Changing Church’ where Pastor and people work together to achieve our vision to reach the congregation, local community and beyond,” says Ebenezer’s Pastor, Dr. Vincent Campbell. “The presentation of ‘Let My People Go!’ is in line with our vision, and we are proud to provide this venue so that many from all neighborhoods will be able to experience this highly acclaimed production.